inaBwity of Matter, &c. 135

among themselves, by their mutual illifions,attrition,contrary and interfering di re£l i on s }and add to this the irregularity and intrica-cies of the meanders they move in, differing,inconceivably from the simplicity of a circu-lar motion; and lastly, take in the vastly un-equal capacities of these channels, and their ;endless divisions and branchings, the impossi-bility which was shewn in the other cafe, isinfinitely multiplied in this. We saw alsojust now (N° 14.0s this) the necessity of theindesinent action of xhzpower upon the weight,in any simple machine; but here there is anequal necessity for the indesinent action of aninfinity of powers (so to speak): it is not inany one particle, under the same constantcircumstances, that the fame quantity of mo-tion is to be kept up, as in machines that weknow; but in every part of this inconceivablycomplicated piece of mechanism, under anendless variety of circumstances, where thepower is to be applied in still a different man-ner , so that we must conceive them as differ-ent powers, and where a difference of thequantity of motion in the same particle, isas necestary to the end proposed, and thisdifference still to be in number and proper-ly 4 - tion,